Whew

What a week it has been! We finished the first half of old apartment B minutes before the German contingent for today's wedding drove in. It wasn't exactly ready, but they're nice folks and were grateful for beds and a hot shower. We finally got the fridge going and gas to the stove the next day! Eventually we'll get new furniture and flatware and decorations on the wall and all. And if we find a moment with no one in there, I'll take photos! I still don't have photos of the inside of the new one-bedroom that replaced D and D2. I can't find a day when it isn't occupied.

So, Thursday night we worked until late (we saw the full moon well-risen before we were done) getting the apartment functional. Yesterday we worked from early until even later in the night getting ready for the wedding today.

Jean Bruno from Congo and Magdalena Wagner from Germany just drove away as man and wife. They'll be back in a bit for the reception. Don't ask me where they went. Photos? A quiet coffee before the reception?

So crews were here setting up a podium and tents until 10 or so. No, later. I fell asleep before they finished. I had worked with Patrice and Ndiaga and others to clear away all the junk left from the construction and spread a 16 cubic meters of crushed shells in the courtyard. We also finished installing lights and cleaned out every nook and cranny and general worked our tails off.

Today I continued that process and I must say the place looked good.

Friends of the couple decorated with new plants and special curtains for the veranda and Christmas lights in the trees and all that sort of thing. Today the electrician and computer guy and sound guy each came with his crew. It was a last minute madhouse rush. But they got it done. Now if only the power will stay on through the evening.

Pastor Adama from Thiès preached and José and Timothée participated. There were three choirs, it seemed and over a couple hundred guests, including family who flew in from Congo and Germany. Quite the event.

It was a beautiful day and a lovely wedding.

Everyone was impressed. Well... Except the guard dog. Brownie took it all in stride.